AGARTALA, Nov 17 (TIWN): Opposition Congress has demanded an immediate down in the VAT charges on aviation turbine fuel in Tripura.

Addressing in a press conference at the Congress Headquarter, Tripura Congress President Birjit Sinha said, "Earlier, there were 28 flights traveled from Agartala Airport. Now, it has downed at 20 numbers of flights and we heard that now the Indigo is planning to quit. Matter is that for VAT on aviation turbine fuel Tripura is charging 18% whereas other Northeast States as Mizoram 4.5%, Meghalaya 4%, Assam 6%".

"Tripura is already lagging behind in development. Under Jawharlal Nehru's Prime Ministry  subsidies were given for four Airports and flights were running including Khowai, Kamalpur, Kailashahar route. Kamalpur to Kailashahar at Rs. 5 the students could travel on that time. Rs. 18 was the charge for Kailashahar-Agartala route. From Kailshahar to Kolkata it was Rs. 65. But all were stopped and now a Govt (BJP) which is same at Centre and State is pushing all flights to take off permanently from Agartala Airport", Sinha said.

"The Chief Minister is saying bogus that he requested so many times, wrote letters to Centre in this issue, whereas both Centre & State are ruled by BJP. However, first of all, Congress demands that the VAT should be downed at Rs. 4. Congress believes that's how problems which has been created centering flight-service will be solved", Birjit Sinha told media. 

Congress has given 7 days time to BJP Govt to decrease VAT on aviation turbine fuel.